Page 96 of Stormhold

BELLE

Age 16

Thirteen years ago

“And they lived happily ever after…” Mother’s sweet voice carried through the pink-tinted walls of our shared bedroom. I couldn’t help but drag my eyes toward her, and a smile touched my lips instantly.

She was beautiful.

The most beautiful woman in the world.

Her eyes were the brightest shade of deep blue, like the Atlantic on a cloudy day, and her hair was the darkest shade of black, falling like shadowy night down to her hips, and she smiled a smile that warmed my heart.

But more than that, she was kind, strong, and smart.

My sisters were huddled in their princess pj’s next to her with a little too much energy for the time of day. It was way past our bedtime. But today was the Fourth of July. After the fireworks and all the extra candies and food, sleep was the last thing on our minds. Especially for my rowdy little sisters.

“Once more, Ma,” Ari whined, her adorable lips folded into a pout. Almost as if she hadn’t heard Mother read her The Little Mermaid about a thousand times before.

“Mama’s tired, Ariel.” Mother sighed, but the softness in her eyes didn’t fade as she spoke to her. “How about you sing us a song instead?”

That perked Ari up. Like her namesake, she loved to sing.

“Yes, Ari, sing.” Snow giggled, pumping her tiny fists in the air. The sight only made my mother’s bright blues soften further as she held her youngest to her chest. Snow was the prettiest girl in our family. I knew that when she got older, she was going to be robbing hearts so casually. She was the only one in our family who inherited Mother’s striking blue eyes. They were stark against luminous skin and luscious raven hair.

Snow’s request was soon followed by Ari jumping out of the bed with a huge grin. Mother and I shared a smile at her excitement; even little Snow agreed. Her big blue eyes glowed like beams as they trailed Ari.

I tucked my book away and perched myself on my stomach as I watched Ari take the stage in her usual spot at the front of the bed. The bright pink wall behind her was covered with posters of her favorite artist and doodles of her favorite artworks. Ari was a true creative.

It was her idea to have a pink room, and I didn’t complain. The color of the walls didn’t concern me. I was happy with my single bed below the huge windows and the modest bookshelf I used as a nightstand.

My attention zoned in on Ari as her rendition of “Part of Your World” filled the room. She was a natural. Her voice was melodic and velvety smooth. Powerful. Even at six, she could belt out tunes as high as a soft whistle of a singing bird.

We all cheered in loud claps when she finished, and that made pink paint her chubby cheeks.

“Thank you.” Ari bowed gracefully, her unusual hazel-blue eyes gleaming proudly.

“Okay, time for bed,” Mother announced, which was met with two loud protests. Snow just copied whatever Ari said while Mother tried to explain to them the importance of sleeping at the right time.

“This is not fair, Ma.” Ari stomped her tiny feet, poking a finger at me. “Why does Belle get to read, and we have to sleep?”

Since this was a daily occurrence, I knew it would take a while before they settled down. Shaking my head, I went back to my book, intrigued to discover how Nancy Drew would find the one last clue to solve her mystery.

“Because Belle is a big girl.” Mother soothed. “She’ll sleep right after you two.”

After a few more exchanges, Ari mumbled, “Fine.”

My eyes never left the lines of the last few chapters, the pace quickening as the words created a movie inside my head.

Reading was my escape. My sanity. I loved the feel of the smudged papers between my fingers, the smell when they got a bit too old, but more than anything, I loved how it kept my mind busy.

There are some things I’d just rather forget.

“Are my princesses ready for bed?” Father’s cheery voice reached my ears. I looked up to see Father poking his head inside our door. My father was tall and strong and kind, but it was the way he cared for and loved my mother that made him the man he was. He swore he fell in love with Mother at first sight. Although Mother didn’t give in without a fight, she eventually couldn’t help but fall head over heels for him. And he kept his promise to this day, being the man she deserved.

“I’m not a princess, Daddy,” Ari said in glee, running over to Father. “I’m going to be a pirate queen when I grow up.”

Father picked her up in his arms. “You can be anything when you grow up, you little menace.”